published_or_final_version / Linguistics / Master / Master of Philosophy

This study investigates Japanese EFL teachers' perceptions of regional varieties of English, which are designated as either the Outer Circle or the Expanding Circle by Kachru (1985), and their potential place in EFL teaching in Japan. Participants were 36 teachers at junior high and elementary schools and 28 undergraduates in a TEFL certificate program. Data collection was completed with the use of two Likert-scale questionnaires: one involving a task in listening to various English varieties, and the other asking about beliefs about the English language in general and perceptions of nonnative/nonstandard Englishes as opposed to the two major varieties in ELT in Japan: American and British English. In addition, oral interviews were conducted with several participants and their assistant language teachers (ALTs). / The findings suggested that in-service teachers showed more ambivalent attitudes toward nonnative varieties than student-teachers did; although the teachers acknowledged potential benefits of nonnative Englishes for the future use of EIL, they showed hesitation in regarding different Englishes as instructional models to be exposed to students. However, the study also showed participants' interest in introducing other Englishes as awareness-raising models. The possibility of inclusion of nonnative varieties was further discussed.

Speakers of Spanish in the United States are living perhaps the most interesting linguistic experience in the entire Hispanic world. The present study deals with the theme of the Spanish language in contact with English and the problems related with social bilingualism. The first part of Chapter I recounts the principal incidents in the history of Spanish expansion, and outlines the route of the advance of the Spanish language throughout the American continent. The second part of Chapter I presents statistical tables pertaining to immigrants, and explains the geographic and demographic distribution of Hispanics in the United States. Chapter II is a linguistic study of the varieties of Spanish found in the United States, along with lexical examples from daily use, and grammatical characteristics. Chapter III provides an academic classification according to the sociolinguistic and sociocultural factors which affect the Spanish language. Chapter IV presents the linguistic deviations produced by factors at the phonological, morphological, syntactical, lexical, semantic and grammatical level. Chapter V concentrates on the bilingual element of U.S. society. Three tables demonstrate the distribution of English and Spanish according to the sociolinguistic context and the type of text involved. In addition, three studies are presented to deepen our knowledge of bilingualism, as well as its causes and consequences. The conclusion must take into account the fact that it will not be possible to assimilate Hispanics as easily as has been done with people of other cultures in the United States, since the group renews itself continuously through the presence of recently arrived Hispanic immigrants, and those who have recently returned.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This dissertation documents the emergence of a new language, Light Warlpiri, in the multilingual community of Lajamanu in northern Australia. It then examines the acquisition of Light Warlpiri language, and of the heritage language, Lajamanu Warlpiri, by children. Light Warlpiri has arisen from contact between Lajamanu Warlpiri (a Pama-Nyungan language), Kriol (an English-based creole), and varieties of English. It is a Mixed Language, meaning that none of its source languages can be considered to be the sole parent language. Most verbs and the verbal morphology are from Aboriginal English or Kriol, while most nouns and the nominal morphology are from Warlpiri. The language input to children is complex. Adults older than about thirty speak Lajamanu Warlpiri and code-switch into Aboriginal English or Kriol. Younger adults, the parents of the current cohort of children, speak Light Warlpiri and code-switch into Lajamanu Warlpiri and into Aboriginal English or Kriol. Lajamanu Warlpiri and Light Warlpiri, the two main input languages to children, both indicate A arguments with ergative case-marking (and they share one allomorph of the marker), but Lajamanu Warlpiri includes the marker much more consistently than Light Warlpiri. Word order is variable in both languages. Children learn both languages from birth, but they target Light Warlpiri as the language of their everyday interactions, and they speak it almost exclusively until four to six years of age. Adults and children show similar patterns of ergative marking and word order in Light Warlpiri. But differences between age groups are found in ergative marking in Lajamanu Warlpiri - for the oldest group of adults, ergative marking is obligatory, but for younger adults and children, it is not. Determining when children differentiate between two input languages has been a major goal in the study of bilingual acquisition. The two languages in this study share lexical and grammatical properties, making distinctions between them quite subtle. Both adults and children distribute ergative marking differently in the two languages, but show similar word order patterns in both. However the children show a stronger correlation between ergative marking and word order patterns than do the adults, suggesting that they are spearheading processes of language change. In their comprehension of sentences in both Lajamanu Warlpiri and Light Warlpiri, adults use a case-marking strategy to identify the A argument (i.e. N+erg = A argument, N-erg = O argument). The children are not adult-like in using this strategy at age 5, when they also used a word order strategy, but they gradually move towards being adult-like with increased age.

Thesis (M.A.T.) -- School for International Training, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-93).

Thesis (MA (General Linguistics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis considers the linguistic item mos as it occurs in the speech of non-standard Cape Afrikaans speakers from the rural areas of the Western Cape, namely Montague, Worcester, Robertson, Touwsrivier, De Doorns, and Beaufort West. The syntactic and pragmatic properties of mos are described, as well as its prevalence in discourse in relation to particular social factors. Properties and functions of adverbs and discourse markers, as discussed by Ponelis (1985), Schiffrin (1987, 2001), and Fraser (1993, 1999, 2001), are applied to mos in terms of its syntactic characterisation as an adverb and as a discourse marker. The pragmatic analysis of mos is based on the analysis of discourse markers, such as you know in English, by Schiffrin (1987, 2001). With regard to the grammatical properties of mos, it was found that mos behaves much like an adverb in terms of syntactic distribution, yet it does not fulfil all the grammatical functions of an adverb, which is why it is being analysed as a discourse marker. The functions of mos as an adverb are restricted; mos does not perform the adverbial function of modifying verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and prepositional phrases; rather, the entire proposition expressed by the utterance is modified or qualified by the use of mos. Its discourse marker functions follow from this property; discourse markers tend to retain the distributional properties of the syntactic category from which they are derived – in this case, the discourse marker mos is derived from the syntactic category of adverb. The position of mos within the sentence, both medial and final, is grammatically determined and has a grammatical relationship with other constituents in the sentence. This is similar for its function as adverb and as discourse marker. Mos is bound to the sentence structure, yet it may still be removed from the sentence without affecting grammaticality; however, in such an event the intended interpretation may not be as explicit. In analysing the discourse functions of mos, a number of pragmatic functions were identified: (i) mos indicates information as general knowledge and knowledge that should be known; (ii) it presents information as necessary in order for a narrative to be understood; (iii) it functions in the development of meta-knowledge in order to discover knowledge which the hearer has about a particular topic; (iv) it presents information which is to be interpreted as a causal or reason for a particular event or situation; (v) it presents a position or opinion in an argument which is to be regarded as fact; and (vi) it reveals logical relationships between two utterances. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis handel oor die linguistiese item mos soos dit in die spraak van nie-standaard Kaapse Afrikaanse sprekers in die landelike gebiede van die Wes-Kaap, naamlik Montague, Worcester, Robertson, Touwsrivier, De Doorns, en Beaufort-Wes voorkom. Die tesis beskryf die sintaktiese en pragmatiese eienskappe van mos, sowel as die effek van spesifieke sosiale faktore op die voorkoms daarvan in diskoers. Die eienskappe en funksies van bywoorde en diskoersmerkers, soos deur Ponelis (1985), Schiffrin (1987, 2001), en Fraser (1993, 1999, 2001) bespreek, word op mos toegepas in terme van sy sintaktiese karakterisering as bywoord. Die pragmatiese analise van mos is gebasseer op Schiffrin (1987, 2001) se analise van diskoersmerkers, byvoorbeeld you know ("jy weet") in Engels. Wat betref die grammatikale eienskappe van mos is daar gevind dat mos soos ‘n bywoord optree in terme van sintakties verspreiding. Dit vervul egter nie al die grammatikale funksies van ‘n bywoord nie; om daardie rede word dit as ‘n diskoersmerker ontleed. Die funksies van mos as ‘n bywoord is beperk; mos modifiseer nie werkwoorde, byvoeglikenaamwoorde, ander bywoorde, of preposisionele frases nie, maar dit modifiseer wel die algehele proposisie wat uitgedruk word deur die uiting. Die diskoersmerker-funksies volg vanuit hierdie eienskap. Diskoersmerkers is geneig om die sintaktiese gedrag van die sintaktiesie kategorie waarvan hulle afgelei is, te behou; in hierdie geval is die diskoersmerker mos afgelei vanaf die sintaktiese kategorie bywoord. Mos kan in die middel of aan die einde van die sin voorkom en sy posisie word grammatikaal bepaal. Dit is die geval vir beide sy funksie as bywoord en as diskoersmerker. Mos is verbind met die sinstruktuur (anders as ander diskoersmerkers), maar dit kan steeds uit die sin verwyder word sonder om grammatikaliteit te beïnvloed; die bedoelde interpretasie mag in so 'n geval egter minder eksplisiet wees. Met die analise van die diskoersfunksies van mos is ‘n aantal pragmatiese funksies geïdentifiseer: (i) mos dui inligting as algemene kennis aan of as inligting wat reeds bekend behoort te wees aan die gespreks genote; (ii) dit stel inligting as noodsaaklik tot die begrip van narratiewe voor; (iii) dit funksioneer in die ontwikkeling van meta-kennis; (iv) dit merk inligting weer wat as rede vir ‘n spesifieke gebeurtenis of situasie geïnterpreteer kan word; (v) dit dui ‘n posisie of ‘n opinie aan wat as feit aanvaar word in ‘n argument; en (vi) dit lê logiese verhoudings tussen uitings bloot.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Neste estudo, investigamos a alternÃncia entre os modos verbais subjuntivo e indicativo em oraÃÃes independentes na fala do Cariri, regiÃo localizada ao sul do CearÃ. Os dados foram extraÃdos do Projeto PROFALA, que contempla o banco de dados O portuguÃs falado no CearÃ, sediado na Universidade Federal do CearÃ, no Programa de PÃs GraduaÃÃo em LinguÃstica, com informantes estratificados em faixa etÃria (15-26, 27-49 e 50 em diante), sexo (masculino e feminino) e anos de escolaridade (0-8, 9-11). O principal objetivo desse trabalho à descrever a variaÃÃo entre subjuntivo e indicativo em oraÃÃes independentes dubitativas, analisando os ambientes que restringem o uso do subjuntivo, bem como os ambientes que favorecem a alternÃncia entre os modos. Para isso, selecionamos quatro variÃveis linguÃsticas â padrÃo morfofonolÃgico do verbo, marcador dubitativo, tempo verbal da oraÃÃo e tipo de verbo da oraÃÃo, alÃm das variÃveis sociais clÃssica â sexo/gÃnero, escolaridade e faixa etÃria. Assim, verificamos a atuaÃÃo desses grupos de fatores no favorecimento do uso do subjuntivo em oraÃÃes independentes. Os dados foram quantificados por meio do programa estatÃstico GOLDVARB X e analisados à luz da Teoria da VariaÃÃo e MudanÃa, por meio dos estudos de Labov (1968; 1972; 1994; 2001; 2008), uma vez que concebem a lÃngua como sistema heterogÃneo e suscetÃvel Ãs pressÃes de uso e, consequentemente, aos mais diversos processos de variaÃÃo. Nossos resultados apontam para as variÃveis linguÃsticas padrÃo morfofonolÃgico, marcador dubitativo e tempo verbal como favorecedores do subjuntivo na comunidade de fala analisada. Quanto Ãs variÃveis sociais, apenas gÃnero/sexo foi selecionada pelo programa estatÃstico, com resultados que apontam os homens como mais favorecedores das formas subjuntivas que as mulheres na fala do Cariri. / This study investigates the alternation between the indicative and subjunctive verbal moods in independent clauses in the spoken Portuguese of Cariri, region located in the south of the Brazilian state of CearÃ. The data were extracted from PROFALA Project, which includes the database "The spoken Portuguese in CearÃ", headquartered at the Federal University of CearÃ, in the Graduate Program in Linguistics. This corpus consists of approximately 125 hours corresponding to 176 interviews with informants stratified by age group, sex and instruction level. The main objective of this research is to describe the variation between subjunctive and indicative in dubitatives independent clauses, analyzing environments that restrict the use of the subjunctive, as well as environments that promote switching between moods. Four linguistic variables were selected - morphophonological default verb, doubter marker, tense of the clause, verb type of the clause, besides the classical social variables - sex / gender, education and age. Thus, it analyzes the performance of these groups of factors in favor of the use of the subjunctive or alternation with the indicative mood in the independent clauses. The data were quantified using the statistical program GOLDVARB X and analyzed according to the Theory of Variation and Change, through studies of Labov (1968 , 1972 , 1994, 2001 , 2008), since they conceive language as a heterogeneous system susceptible to pressure of use and, therefore, the various processes of variation. The results indicate all linguistic variables controlled in this study as favoring subjunctive alternation in analyzed speech community. All indices showed high percentage in favor of the use of the subjunctive variant inindependent clauses in the spoken language of Cariri. Concerning social variables, only gender / sex was selected by the statistical program, with results that indicate men use more subjunctive forms than women in speech Portuguese of Cariri .

This thesis is an articulatory investigation into phonological variation and change in English /l/-darkening. Although syllable-based accounts of /l/-darkening state that light [l] occurs in onsets (e.g. `leap') and a dark variant in codas (e.g. `peel'), numerous works linking phonology with other subfields of linguistics have shown that this simplified distinction cannot fully account for the variation found. Firstly, /l/-darkening is sensitive to morphosyntactic structure, as shown through overapplication of the process in certain morphosyntactically defined positions: e.g. word-finally in phrases such as `heal it', or stem-finally before a suffix in words such as `healing'. In addition, analyses of /l/-darkening from several phonetic studies have led to some arguing against an allophonic distinction altogether, stating that the difference between light and dark variants is merely two extremes of one continuum. Not only does this interpretation challenge the traditional categorisation of /l/-darkening but, given the clear sensitivity to morphosyntactic boundaries that /l/-darkening displays, it also raises questions for a modular architecture of the grammar if phonetics can be morphologically conditioned. This dissertation is an empirical analysis of /l/-darkening, presenting data from nine varieties of English. Given the difficulty in measuring liquid consonants reliably, ultrasound tongue imaging is used to provide a thorough account of the prime articulatory correlations of darkening processes. The present study provides hitherto absent instrumental evidence confirming the varying degrees of morphosyntactic sensitivity across different dialects. I demonstrate that, rather than being contradictory or chaotic, variation to morphosyntactic boundaries cross-dialectally makes complete sense under an analysis that pays due consideration to the diachronic evolution of phonological processes. Moreover, my data show that the majority of speakers display both categorical allophony of light and dark variants, and gradient phonetic effects coexisting in the same grammar. Therefore, an adequate account of English /l/-darkening presupposes both a theory of the morphosyntax-phonology interface, and the phonetics-phonology interface. I interpret these results by assuming the modular architecture of the life cycle of phonological processes, whereby a phonological rule starts its life as a phonetically driven gradient process, over time stabilising into a phonological process at the phrase level, and advancing through the grammar. Not only does the life cycle make predictions about application at different levels of the grammar, it also predicts that stabilised phonological rules do not replace the phonetic processes from which they emerged, but typically coexist with them. Moreover, the obvious intimate link between /l/-darkening and /l/-vocalisation can be explained in terms of the life cycle, in the way of lenition trajectories. The results here show that, as predicted, the more recent stage of the lenition trajectory is harsher in terms of its phonetic effect, as well as less advanced in the grammar, applying at a lower level than darkening when the two co-occur in the same variety. I conclude by arguing that the proposed analysis demonstrates that a full understanding of /l/-darkening in English requires an approach that considers variation under phonetic, phonological and morphosyntactic terms. The wide range of dialectal diversity, for which this thesis provides only a small subset, shows a great deal of orderliness when paying due consideration to the diachronic evolution of variable phonological processes.

This study set out to analyse the concept of the ʾcoloured communityʾ and to describe the linguistic phenomena associated with it. It was found that the community was characterized by division and an overt rejection of 'coloured' identity. A satisfactory definition of the community could only be arrived at by exploring social psychological and anthropological concepts, particularly that of the social network, and a covert identification was postulated. This in turn was used to explain the linguistic phenomena which were found to be associated with the community. The latter included a vernacular dialect consisting of non-standard Afrikaans blended with English, as well as a stratification of particular items in the English spoken by community members . This stratification was analysed in terms of the social distribution of the items, enabling comparisons to be made with the English spoken by ʾwhitesʾ. A fieldwork study was embarked on with the intention of discovering the nature of the perceptions of, and attitudes towards, the idiolects of certain speakers. These idiolects were considered to be typical and representative of the forms of English normally encountered in the Cape Peninsula, and were described in terms of the co-occurrences of linguistic items which they contained. Tape recordings of the speech of this group of speakers were presented in a series of controlled experiments to subjects from various class and community backgrounds who were required to respond by completing questionnaires. It was found that those lects which contained items and co-occurrences of items peculiar to 'coloured' speakers were associated with lower status than those containing items and co-occurrences of items peculiar to 'white' speakers. Attitudes towards speakers were found to be more complex and depended upon the styles and paralanguage behaviours of the speakers, as well as accent, and also the psychological dispositions of the subjects who participated

M.A. (Afrikaans) / This study explores language usage in the pol it ical arena, as seen in the parliamentary debates of the new South Africa. The parliamentary Afrikaans used between February 1990 and June 1991 has been selected as field of invest igat ion, because this period can be seen as an important transitional phase in the political history of South Africa. This period has definitely had an influence on the lexicon used in parliament. The parliamentary debates, as recorded in the tlansards of 2 February 1990 21 June 1991. have been used as primary sources. These debates contain the most important semantic and terminological changes that occurred in the parliamentary lexicon. This study is based on the Sapir-Wharf hypothesis (the theory of relativity) which states that a close link exists between language and thought, and language and reality. Whorf believes that language can actually shape and influence the human mind. This Induces people to experience reality in different ways. The following concepts are used to illustrate how political language in general, and parliamentary language in particular has been influenced by the process of pol i tical thought in the new South Africa: Afrikaner, volk, nssl, delDokrasie, serest/she/d, selykberegt/s/ng, groep etc. A summary of the parliamentary lexicon gives an indication of the variety of meanings that have evolved from various concepts. This has occurred because political parties uphold their own interpretations of these concepts...